Window regulator



March 17, 1964 T. E. LOHR wmoow REGULATOR Filed May 2, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

A77DRNEY March 17, 1964 T. E. LOHR 3,125,334

wmnow REGULATOR Filed May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

BY izomas 6. 30%:

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,125,334 WINDOW REGULATOR Thomas E.L'ohr, Detroit, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 107,128Claims. (Cl. 26S124) This invention relates to window regulators andmore particularly to an improved window regulator for moving a vehiclewindow between open and closed positions.

The window regulator of this invention is of the general type includingpower-operating means mounted on the window and engageable with meansmounted on the body in order to move the window between open and closedpositions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a double-endedelectric motor is secured to the window for swinging movement relativethereto about both horizontal and vertical axes. A pair of pinionsdriven by the motor mesh with racks secured to the body to furnish thedriving connection between the window and the body. The pinions are of awidth greater than the width of the racks in order to permitlongitudinal movement of the window relative to the racks as the windowmoves between its positions. Roller means supported by the motor areengageable with the racks to maintain the tooth spacing between thelands of the pinion teeth and the lands of the rack teeth, with springmeans continually biasing the motor toward the racks about thehorizontal axis so as to insure constant meshing engagement of thepinions with the racks regardless of lateral displacement of the racksrelative to each other or lateral displacement of the window relative toone or both racks. A window regulator clutch connects spaced portions ofthe armature shaft adjacent one of the pinions to insure that the windowwill remain in any adjusted position thereof by preventing the weight ofthe window and of the electric motor from driving the pinions along theracks.

One feature of the invention is in the mounting of the motor for pivotalmovement about horizontal and vertical axes relative to the window so asto insure constant meshing engagement of the pinions with the racksregardless of lateral displacement of one rack relative to the other orlateral displacement of the window relative to the racks. Anotherfeature of this invention is in the use of the rollers which engage theracks and the biasing springs which continually bias the motor towardthe racks to maintain the tooth spacing between the lands of the pinionteeth and the lands of the rack teeth. This feature of the inventioninsures a positive driving connection of the motor with the racks at alltimes. A further feature of this invention is in the differential widthof the pinions relative to the racks to allow longitudinal shiftingmovement of the window relative to the racks as the window moves betweenits opened and closed positions. Yet another feature of this inventionis in the clutch which prevents the weight of the window and of themotor from driving the pinions relative to the racks when the motor isdeenergized.

These and other features of the invention will be readily apparent fromthe following specification and drawings wherein:

FlGURE 1 is a partially broken away partial side elevational view of avehicle door having a vertically movable door window movable betweenopen and closed positions by a window regulator according to thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 2-2of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken gen- 3,125,334 PatentedMar. 17, 1964 eirallydalong the plane indicated by line 3-3 of FIGUREFIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings a vehicle door 10 includes adoor outer panel 12 and a door inner panel 14 which are spaced apart toprovide a window receiving well 16 for the vertically movable doorwindow 18. Window 18 opens and closes the rearward portion of the doorwindow opening, with the forward portion of the door window openingbeing opened and closed by the usual swingable ventilation window 20.

An angle bracket 22 secured to the lower frame member 24 of the windowi8 is bolted at 26 to flange 28 of an offset bracket 30. Bracket 30includes a pair of apertured lateral ears 32 which are pivoted by pin 34to a like pair of ears 36 of an angle bracket 38. Bracket 33 is pivotedby pin 40 to one leg of an angle bracket 42 which is bolted at 44 to adouble ended electric motor 46. Motor 46 can thus swing about a verticalaxis defined by the axis of pin 46 and can also swing about a horizontalaxis defined by the axis of pin 34. A pair of bowed leaf springs 48having one end thereof riveted at 50 to bracket 30 engage the bracket 42so as to continually bias the brackets 38 and 42 to the left orclockwise about pin 34, as viewed in FIGURE 2, and also act to centerbracket 42 relative to bracket 30 about pin 40.

A pair of like racks 52 include offset flanged ends which are secured at54 to the door inner panel 14 in order to mount the racks on the body.The central portion of each rack is of generally channel shaped construction, with one leg of this portion being provided with a number ofequally spaced gear teeth 56. The teeth 56 mesh with pinions 58 and 60which are driven by motor 46. Pinion 58 is suitably fixed to one end ofthe armature shaft 62 of motor 46 and the width of this pinion as wellas the Width of the pinion 60 is greater than the width of the teeth 56,FIGURES l and 4, so as to insure meshing engagement of the pinions withthe teeth 56 of the racks despite any longitudinal shifting movement ofthe window relative to the racks as the Window moves between its openand closed positions. The other end of the armature shaft 62 is fixed toa rubber torsional coupling member 64 which is also I secured to a shaftmember 66 which mounts the pinion 60. A clutch member 68 is secured at70 to a flange 72 of bracket 42 to interconnect the shaft member 66 andthe bracket 42 when the motor is deenergized. Clutch member 68 is ofknown construction and reference may be had to copending applicationS.N. 43,407, filed July 18, 1960, for the details of a suitable clutchmember. The shaft member 66 and the one end of the armature shaft 62each rotatably mount a rubber or nylon roller 74 which engage the basesof the channel portions of the racks 52 adjacent the teeth 56 so as tomaintain the tooth spacing between the lands of the pinion teeth and thelands of the rack teeth. The rollers 74 are held in engagement with theracks 52 regardless of any movement of the motor 46 about either itshorizontal or vertical axis by means of the springs 48.

The operation of the window regulator is believed obvious andaccordingly only a brief description will be given. When the motor 46 isoperated, the armature shaft 62 will rotate to drive the pinion 58 andalso drive the shaft member 66 so as to drive the pinion 60 and therebymove the window 18 from its closed position, as shown, to any openposition. When the shaft member 66 is rotated, the clutch 68 will bereleased so as to permit rotational movement of the shaft member ineither direction.

Should the racks 52 be laterally displaced relative to each other, suchdisplacement is easily compensated for by movement of the motor 46 abouteither or both its horizontal and vertical axes. Additionally, if thewindow 18 does not move in a straight vertical path between its open andclosed positions, such movement will also be compensated for by movementof motor 46 about either its horizontal or vertical axes. Of course,regardless of the position of the motor 46 about either its horizontalor vertical axis, the tooth spacing between the teeth of the pinion andthe teeth of the rack will be maintained by means of the rollers 74 andits springs 48.

Thus this invention provides a new and improved window regulator.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle body including a window opening and a window movable ina multiplicity of planes between open and closed positions with respectto said opening, the combination comprising, power operating means,means operatively interconnecting said power operating means and saidwindow for selective movement of said window and said power operatingmeans relative to each other about horizontal and vertical axes, rackmeans mounted on said body, pinion means driven by said power operatingmeans and engageable with said rack means to thereby move said window,and means maintaining the working depth of said pinion means and saidrack means regardless of the horizontal or vertical position of saidwindow and said power operating means relative to each other.

2. In a vehicle body including a window opening and a window movable ina multiplicity of planes between open and closed positionswith respectto said opening, the combination comprising, power operating means,means operatively interconnecting said power operating means and saidwindow for selective movement of said window and said power operatingmeans relative to each other about horizontal and vertical axes, rackmeans mounted on said body, pinion means movable with said poweroperating means and driven thereby, means biasing said pinion means intoengagement with said rack means, and means limiting movement of saidpinion means relative to said rack means to maintain the working depthof said pinion means and said rack means regardless of the horizontal orvertical position of said window andsaid power operating means relativeto each other.

3. In a vehicle body including a window opening and a window movable ina multiplicity of planes between open and closed positions with respectto said opening, the combination comprising, power operating means,means operatively interconnecting said power operating means and saidwindow for selective movement of said window and said power operatingmeans relative to each other about horizontal and vertical axes, rackmeans mounted on said body, pinion means movable with said poweroperating means and driven thereby, means biasing said pinion means intoengagement with said rack means, means limiting movement of said pinionmeans relative to said rack means to maintain the working depth of saidpinion means and said rack means regardless of the horizontal orvertical position of said window and said power operating means relativeto each other, and means preventing movement of said window when saidpower operating means are deenergized.

4. In a vehicle body including a window opening and a window movable ina multiplicity of planes between open and closed positions with respectto said opening, the combination comprising, an electric motor, meansoperatively interconnecting said motor and said window for selectivemovement of said motor and said window relative to each other abouthorizontal and vertical axes, rack means mounted on said body, pinionmeans secured to the armature shaft of said motor and engageable withsaid rack means to thereby move said window, means engageable with saidrack means to maintain the working depth of said pinion means and saidrack means regardless of the horizontal or vertical position of saidwindow and said motor relative to each other, and resilient meansbiasing said motor about its horizontal and vertical axes toward saidrack means to hold said engageable means in engagement with said rackmeans.

5. In a vehicle body including a window opening and a window movablebetween open and closed positions with respect to said opening, thecombination comprising, an electric motor, means operativelyinterconnecting said motor and said window for selective movement ofsaid motor and said window relative to each other about horizontal andvertical axes, pinion means secured to the armature shaft of said motorand engageable with said rack means to thereby move said window, meansengageable with said rack means to maintain the working depth of saidpinion means and said rack means regardless of the horizontal orvertical position of said window and said motor relative to each other,resilient means biasing said motor about its horizontal and verticalaxes toward said rack means to hold said engageable means in engagementwith said rack means, and clutch means preventing movement of saidwindow when said motor is deenergized.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A VEHICLE BODY INCLUDING A WINDOW OPENING AND A WINDOW MOVABLE INA MULTIPLICITY OF PLANES BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECTTO SAID OPENING, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, POWER OPERATING MEANS,MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING SAID POWER OPERATING MEANS AND SAIDWINDOW FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID WINDOW AND SAID POWER OPERATINGMEANS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER ABOUT HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL AXES, RACKMEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BODY, PINION MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID POWER OPERATINGMEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RACK MEANS TO THEREBY MOVE SAID WINDOW,AND MEANS MAIN-